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CNN Live At Daybreak
Ford, Bridgestone/Firestone CEOs to Meet in Congressional Hearing
Aired June 19, 2001 - 07:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The government now says that 203 deaths are associated with the Firestone ATX, Wilderness, and other tires that are under investigation; that is up 29 from the number that was given out in February.
The companies each blame one another, and today, the CEOs square off in Washington.
More now from CNN's Tim O'Brien.
TIM O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol.
Two titans of the industry will be testifying: Jacques Nasser, the CEO of Ford, and John Lampe, the CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone.
But it's not just the two men; the companies they run are at one another's throat. The future of the Firestone brand could be on the line, not to mention the future of Ford's wildly popular SUV, Explorer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): A caravan of hundreds of Ford Explorers motored to Washington today in support of the auto company. The demonstration, organized by the United Auto Workers union, the vehicles owned and driven by Ford employees.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time for the working people to stand up and support Ford Motor Company.
O'BRIEN: The CEOs of the auto company and the tire company will square off in this hearing room with what is expected to be yet a new round of finger-pointing.
JACQUES NASSER, CEO, FORD MOTOR COMPANY: We know that this a Firestone tire issue, not a vehicle issue.
JOHN LAMPE, CEO, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE: Most of the deaths and injuries involved Ford Explorers, not other vehicles equipped with the same tires.
O'BRIEN: Government studies show that sports utility vehicles are two to three times more likely to roll over than most passenger cars. Firestone admits problems with its tires, but says Explorers are more likely to roll over after a tread separation.
Ford denies that, and points out that overall, the Explorer has a better than average safety record among SUVs. Some safety experts place blame with both companies, and with the Department of Transportation for failing to adequately warn the motoring public.
CLARENCE DITLOW, CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY: The government has not done anything visible -- and yet, once again, we're entering another summer driving season, when Firestone tires are most likely to fail on Ford Explorers.
O'BRIEN: Top Transportation Department officials are sure to be questioned about that at the hearing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And congressional investigators are expected to present evidence at least suggesting that Ford has been replacing the Firestone tires with other tires that may have an even higher failure rate. That could be a headline coming out of this hearing, Carol and Colleen.
And there's also the critics who say that the real problem is with the SUV itself, that it has a rollover rate two to three times greater than that of most passenger cars.
MCEDWARDS: All right, Tim; Colleen here. As for government experts, do they really blame the tires or the vehicle? What's the story there?
O'BRIEN: Well, they say the tires are malfunctioning. They had a defect, and Firestone has admitted they have had problems with the tires. But they also say that there's a problem with the Ford Explorer. Ford, for its part, says there's nothing wrong with the Explorer.
But the critics are saying they both have defects, and they play into one another. In other words, one is bad, the other's bad, put the two together, and you have the makings of a potential disaster.
MCEDWARDS: CNN's Tim O'Brien, thanks very much.
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